Limonium plant named `Arrow Purple Blue`

ABSTRACT

A distinct cultivar of Limonium plant named `Arrow Purple Blue`, characterized by its dark purple blue flower color; large panicles; numerous flowering stems per plant; resistance to Botrytis; and good postproduction longevity.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Limoniumplant, botanically known as Limonium sinuatum and referred to by thecultivar name Arrow Purple Blue.

The new cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program conducted bythe inventor in Watsonville, Calif. The objective of the breedingprogram is to create new Limonium cultivars having large panicles,strong flower stems, strong flower color, resistant to Botyrtis, andnumerous flowering stems.

The new cultivar originated from a cross made by the inventor in of anunnamed proprietary seedling selection as the male or pollen parent, andthe nonpatented cultivar New Era Lavender as the female or seed parent.The cultivar Arrow Purple Blue was discovered and selected by theinventor as a flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross ina controlled environment in Watsonville, Calif., in 1994.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by tissue culture in acontrolled environment in Watsonville, Calif., has shown that the uniquefeatures of this new Limonium are stable and reproduced true to type insuccessive generations.

The cultivar Arrow Purple Blue has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, daylength and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of `Arrow Purple Blue`. Thesecharacteristics in combination distinguish `Arrow Purple Blue` as a newand distinct cultivar:

1. Dark purple blue flower color.

2. Large panicles.

3. Numerous flowering stems per plant.

4. Resistance to Botrytis.

5. Good postproduction longevity with inflorescences maintaining goodsubstance and color for more than one month in an interior environment.

Compared to the male parent, an unnamed proprietary seedling selection,the new Limonium has longer flower stems and flower color is darker,that is purple blue (90B) rather than light lavender (76B). Compared tothe female parent, the cultivar New Era Lavender, the new Limonium hasstronger but shorter flower stems, and flower color is darker, that ispurple blue (90B) rather than light lavender (76B).

The new Limonium can also be compared to the nonpatented cultivar ArrowLavender 414, however the new Limonium is more vigorous, has longer andstronger flower stems and flower color is darker, that is purple blue(90B) rather than light lavender (76A).

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.

The first photograph comprises a side perspective view of a typicalflowering plant of `Arrow Purple Blue`.

The second photograph comprises a close-up view of flowering panicles ofthe cultivar Arrow Purple Blue.

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe plants grown in Watsonville, Calif., undercommercial practice in polyethylene-covered greenhouses and incultivated fields with night temperatures ranging from 10 to 20C, daytemperatures ranging from 20 to 30C, and light levels ranging from 5,000to 8,000 footcandles. Measurements and numerical values representaverages for six typical flowering stems.

Botanical classification: Limonium sinuatum cultivar Arrow Purple Blue.

Parentage:

Male or pollen parent.--Unnamed proprietary Limonium sinuatum seedlingselection.

Female or seed parent.--Limonium sinuatum cultivar New Era Lavender (notpatented).

Propagation:

Type.--Typically by tissue culture.

Time to rooting.--About ten days with soil temperatures of 25C. At soiltemperatures of 15C, 15 days are required.

Rooting habit.--Fibrous and well-branched.

Plant description:

Appearance.--Perennial herbaceous cut flower. Stems upright and freelybranching.

Flowering stem length.--About 1 meter.

Crop time.--After rooting, plants begin producing harvestable floweringstems within three months. Plants typically stay in production for aboutone year.

Number of harvestable flowering stems per plant.--Per year, about 50.

Vigor.--Vigorous.

Stems.--Appearance: Winged. Aspect: Strong and erect. Length: 80 to 90cm. Texture: Slightly pubescent. Color: 137B.

Foliage description.--Leaf arrangement: Alternate. Leaf size, fullyexpanded: Length: About 25 cm. Width: About 8 cm. Leaf shape: Linear.Leaf apex: Obtuse. Leaf base: Acute. Leaf margin: Serrated. Leaftexture: Leathery, adaxial surface slightly pubescent. Leaf attachment:Sessile. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Color: Young foliage abaxialsurface: 143B. Young foliage adaxial surface: 143B. Mature foliageabaxial surface: 137C. Mature foliage adaxial surface: 137C. Venationabaxial surface: 155B. Venation adaxial surface: 155A.

Flowering description:

Appearance.--Spikelet flowers arranged on corymbose panicles.Inflorescenes arise from leaf axils. Flowers persistent. Panicles about10 cm in length.

Flowering response.--Year round, flowering continous under optimumtemperatures.

Postproduction longevity.--In an interior environment, inflorescences ofcut flowering stems will maintain good color and substance for at leastone month in an interior environment.

Calyx.--Shape: Bell-shaped. Size: Length: About 7 mm. Width: About 8 mm.Margin: Serrated. Texture: Shiny, smooth, and glabrous. Color, whenopening and fully open, abaxial and adaxial surfaces: 90B.

Corolla.--Shape: Cup-shaped. Size: Length: About 2 mm. Width: About 2.5mm. Apex: Obtuse. Margin: Entire. Texture: Satiny, smooth, and glabrous.Color when opening and fully open, abaxial and adaxial surfaces: 155D.

Peduncle.--Appearance: Winged. Aspect: Strong and erect. Length: About10 cm. Texture: Glabrous. Color: 137B.

Flower bud.--Shape: Elongated. Rate of opening: About one week. Size:Length: About 8 mm. Width: About 2 mm. Color: 90B.

Sepals.--Shape: Linear. Quantity: Five. Apex: Acute. Margin: Serrated.Texture: Leathery and pubescent. Color: Abaxial surface: 137B. Adaxialsurface: 138B.

Reproductive organs.--Androecium: Stamen number: Five. Anthers: Shape:Ovate. Size: About 1 mm. Color: 155A. Pollen: Moderate, 155A in color.Gynoecium: Pistil number: One. Stigma shape: Trilobate. Stigma color:155D. Style color: 155D. Style length: About 7 mm. Ovary number: One.

Disease resistance: Resistant to Botrytis.

Seed production: Seed production has not been observed.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Limonium plant named`Arrow Purple Blue`, as illustrated and described.